Sealed mailbag securing device



Feb. 27, 1951 F. W. WOLF 2,543,217

SEALED MAILBAG SECURING DEV'ICE Filed April 25, 194'? INVENTOR FRED' w. WOLF BY W25@ ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 27, 1951 UNTED STATES FATENT OFFICE SEALED MAILBAG sEcURlNG DEVICE Frederick W. Wolf, chicago, n1.

Application April 25, 1,947, Serial No. 743,838

(c1. .cs2- 307) 3 Claims.

My invention relates to securing devices for mail bags, to keep them closed after they have been filled, and one object is to provide a device of this character which secures a strong grip on the rope sections which project from the bag, whereby to firmly maintain the closed condition of the same.

A further object is to devise an article of the above character which is also conducive to the application of a seal to prevent tampering with the securing device.

Another object is to design the novel device along sturdy and compact lines, so that it may be handy to use and durable over a long period.

With the above objects in view, and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. l is an elevation of the top portion of a typical mail bag, showing the application of the securing device;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the device, with the rope sections passing through it;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the seal;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of Fig. 2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are, respectively, enlarged sections on the lines 5 5 and 6 6 of Fig. 2, Fig. 6 showing the seal in process of application;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing the seal secured; and

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Referring specifically to the drawing, l5 shows Ya typical mail bag whose mouth I6 has been gathered by a draw rope I7 to close the bag. The sections I8 of the rope extending from the bag are applied to the securing device 26 in the manner shown in Fig. 2.

The securing device 26 is formed in two major parts, the part indicated at 26 being a rectangular channel of heavy sheet metal. The other part is also a channel 2| of similar form, but shorter. Also, the channel 2| is designed to apply in inverted position to the channel and is slightly narrower than the same to slidably Iit therein from the bottom, as shown in Fig. 6.

The channel 2i! is formed with a group of four openings 23 arranged in square formation. Thus, the rope sections i3 extending from the mail bag are designed to enter the channel by way of one pair of openings 23 and emerge by way of the other pair, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 8. It is noted in the latter figure that the channel top is depressed at 25 between the said pairs of openings and also at 26 beyond such pairs in order to create a curved guide for the passage of the rope sections and save them from becoming cut or frayed by the edges of the openings. The top of the channel 20 is also cutr with a cross-slot 28 at a point beyond the issue zone of the rope sections IB, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

The channel 2| is made with an inward flange 30 at one end; and the sides 3| of the channel are joined to the sides 32 of the channel 2li by a cross-pin 34 having terminal heads 35. The cross-pin is a short distance inwardly of the flange 3G and forms a pivotal joint between the two channels.

The channel 2| is formed with a large rectangular opening 3l at a medial point, a tongue 33 being struck inwardly in forward direction from such opening. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the direction of the tongue 38 is cross-wise of the internal portions of the rope sections i8; and the tongue engages such sections with a clamping pressure and at forward angle, so as to lock the sections from being drawn back, that is, in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 5.

Constituted as just described, the securing device permits the rope sections I8 to be drawn forwardly through the openings 23, whereby t0 draw the bag close to the device, the tongue- 38 then functioning as described to maintain the fastening in place. However, this is only possible when the channel 2| remains in closed relation within the channel 20.

Means are provided to lock the channel 2| in the closed position, such means originating with a frontal tongue 40 bent inwardly from the channel 2|. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the tongue 40 is of length to pass through the slot 28; and the tongue is positioned midway between the sides of the channels. As noted in Fig. 6, the tongue 40 is slotted in its side edges as indicated at 42 to define a headpiece 43. Fig. 3 shows a strip of steel or plastic material designed to serve as a seal between the channel 20 and the tongue 40. Thus, the seal is indicated at 45 and is formed with a longitudinal slot 46 in the middle, such slot continuing with divergent slits 41 in the direction of one end of the seal. In the application of the latter to the tongue 40 the seal is mounted with the slot 46 over the headpiece 43. Since the slot is shorter than the headpiece, a blade 49 formed by the slits 41 is caused to flex as shown in Fig. 6 on the down pressure of the seal. This permits the seal to be pushed forward, that is, in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 6, to insert its rear end portion into the corresponding slot 42 to the extent shown, and then fully 3 into the slot, this allowing the blade 49 to be snapped into the other slot as shown in Fig. 7. The seal therefore becomes caught in the headpiece 43, locking the channel 2l from separation in respect to the channel 20.

It is now apparent that an unauthorized attempt to open the securing device will require tampering with or breaking the seal. However, when the mail bag has reached its destination, the

breaking of the seal not only permits the device to open quickly, but at the same time procures the release of the rope sections I8 by the clamping tongue 38, so that the device may be readily drawn 01T the rope sections and the bag opened. The device thus forms an efficient and sturdy appliance for the purpose described; and being of a simple and compact nature, it may be produced at relatively low cost and handily carried or stored.

While I have described the invention along specic lines, various minor changes or rennements may be made therein without departing from its principle, and I reserve the right to employ all such changes and renements as may come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A securing device for the rope sections eX- tending from a tied mail bag comprising a member having a pair of openings for the inward passage of said rope sections, a further pair of openings for the outward passage thereof, means to clamp the portions of Said sections which eX- tend between the pairs of openings to said member, said means comprising a second member adapted to close on the first one for the operation of said means, a tongue extended from the second member through a slot in the rst one, the emerging portion of the tongue being notched in its side edges to define a headpiece, a seal strip placeable on the first member and formed with a slot designed to receive said headpiece, and means carried by the seal strip adapted to flex upwardly and then downwardly to lodge the ends of the strip slot in the notches of the tongue.

2. A securing device for the rope sections extending from a tied mail bag comprising a channel shaped member, a pair of openings for the inward passage of said rope sections, a second pair of openings for the outward passage thereof, a pivot pin extending through the ilanges of the channel shaped member adjacent one side thereof, a headpiece receiving slot adjacent the opposite end of said channel member, a second channel shaped member pivoted at one end on the pivot pin, an upwardly bent cord engaging tongue struck from said second channel, a second tongue having a headpiece bent upwardly from the forward end of said second channel, and a seal strip engageable with grooves in the headpiec'e to lock the pivoted channel in cord engaging position.

3. A rope locking device comprising an upper channel shaped member, a pair oi oppositely disposed rope receiving holes in the top of the upper channel, a tongue receiving slot adjacent one end of said channel member, a pivot pin iixed between the channel sides, a lower channel fitting within said upper channel and pivoted to the pivot pin, a rope engaging tongue struck up from the lower channel and adapted to engage the rope between the tongue and the underside of the upper channel, an end tongue bent upwardly from the front of the lower channel, a headpiece on said tongue, and a seal strip engageable in slots in the headpiece to lock the lower channel in rope engaging position.

FREDERICK W. WOLF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STA-TES PATENTS Number Name Date 697,710 Gebhard el) al. Apr. 15, 1902 749,847 Curtis Jan. 19, 1904 1,525,606 Moloney Feb. 17, 1925 1,932,101 DietZe Oct. 24, 1933 

